Pupils at a Croydon secondary school who have experienced the positive benefits of a ban on energy drinks have appeared on Jamie Oliver's Channel 4 show as part of his new campaign.

Harris Academy South Norwood stopped pupils from drinking energy drinks at school in September 2016 due to the lack of focus and poor concentration from those who regularly drank these products.

Celebrity chef Oliver has launched a campaign to ban the sale of energy drinks to under 16s and having heard of the school's scheme he contacted the head teacher to find out the effects these drinks have on children and what changes have been noticed in the last 16 months.

Oliver and his co-presenter Jimmy Docherty, in Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast, visited the school on Cumberlowe Avenue to speak with students to find out if the change has had a positive impact on their learning.

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Nick Soar, executive principal of Harris Academy South Norwood, said: "We had long recognised the negative impact of these high-caffeine drinks on our students’ ability to concentrate and banned them from the academy in September 2016.

"The results have been very positive.

“I was hugely impressed by the students’ approach to the filming. The pupils involved all had a brilliant day and provided Jamie and Jimmy with honest insights into the effects of these easily available drinks on young people.”

Students with Jamie Oliver and Jimmy Docherty

Year 10 pupils Mica, Khanel, Muna, Ashane, Lambet and Maisie spoke with Oliver and Docherty to talk about the how many energy drinks it was common for their peers to have, and also about how easy it is to get the highly caffeinated products.

And it wasn’t just pupils who got to meet the duo, teachers were interviewed as well about what effect they thought the drinks were having on students’ learning and behaviour in the classroom

They cited a lack of focus and poor concentration from those who regularly drink these products.

Pupils filming with Jamie

Mr Soar added that the school decided to ban energy drinks because it was common for pupils of all ages to arrive at school with litre bottles, claiming that it stopped them from being tired.